Differences Between Mosquitoes and Crane Flies

Crane flies hatch and can be seen flying around in parts of the Southern United States during the Fall and Spring months. They might look like giant mosquitoes, but they're not. The crane fly is commonly confused with the mosquito because they look similar except for the size. The crane fly is larger than the mosquito and has a more prominent head. Both insects are part of the insect order Diptera and crane flies have a distinctive crane-like, or hump-backed, appearance (hence the name). They also differ in what they eat. The female mosquito sucks blood from humans and animals while the male mosquito and both male and female crane fly suck nectar from plants. You may be happy to know that the crane fly is not harmful to humans or animals. The two also tend to fly at different times and at different heights. Crane Flies tend to fly more in the day and at higher altitudes, while Mosquitoes are more active at dusk and at lower altitudes.

Images of Crane Flies Compared to Mosquitoes